My pulse jumped at having him so close.
Leah was asking the men questions about themselves. “So I’ve always wanted to know.” She fiddled with her beer bottle. “Which of you is Butch and which is Sundance?”
Both guys burst out laughing.
“Damn, I haven’t heard that one in ages,” Gavin said. “It takes me back.”
“Me too,” Philip agreed. “That magazine article is still one of my favorites.”
Gavin leaned toward Leah and affected a southern drawl. “Well, if you must know, little lady, he’s Butch and I’m Sundance. After all, I’m younger and more handsome.”
Philip scoffed. “Get out of here. You’re two months younger than me.”
“And Butch here, being older, is more ornery.”
Philip chuckled and sipped his beer.
“Do you ever mind it when people call you guys the Wild Bunch?” Leah asked.
Gavin shook his head. “Not at all. I call us that myself. Hell, we are a wild bunch.”
“I still have a western ringtone on my phone,” Philip admitted.
“How do you even know about that article?” Gavin asked, eyeing Leah with curiosity.
“I used to work for NorthStone.”
“What?” Gavin was clearly taken aback. “Are you kidding me?”
“I’m not. I worked in Seattle at the main office downtown for a year.”
Philip seemed astonished too. “What was your job?”
“Financial analyst.” Leah listed the names of people she used to work with, and both men nodded.
“So we never met before?” Gavin took a swig from his beer.
“No.” She shrugged. “I was just a lowly analyst, and I was only there a year—less than a year, actually.”
“Are you still in finance?” Philip asked, reaching for another slice of pizza. “Where do you work now?”
“No, I quit altogether.” Leah told them how she left the industry recently, moved back to Truth Harbor, and bought a small farm with llamas, alpacas, and sheep. “I sell raw fleece and the yarn I spin.”
“Quite a change,” Philip commented.
“Leah’s the one who told me about you guys,” I said. “I had no idea you were so famous.”
“More like infamous.” Gavin grinned at me.
I was glad to see Leah had finally relaxed around the two men and seemed to be enjoying herself. Theo was totally mellow. To her they were just a couple of business guys. It was fun when she told them what she did for a living. It wasn’t every day you met a bee entomologist.
Ironically, I was the only one feeling nervous. It was Philip’s fault. With him sitting beside me, it was difficult to ignore his proximity. I wished I wasn’t so attracted to him, but every time I looked at him, I felt a zap of pleasure.
I leaned back and took a deep breath. The sky was turning a darker shade of blue, and the air smelled green and rich. With the radio playing in the background, it was the perfect summer evening. Despite the hour, no one seemed in any hurry to leave.
Gavin sat between Theo and Leah, the three of them discussing the merits of the show Shark Tank and whether it was realistic. Philip joined the discussion for a while, but our eyes kept finding each other.
“How are you?” he asked, leaning toward me, his voice low. “After this morning.”
“Worried. But there’s not much I can do—except get a lawyer. I tried calling Ivy, but she won’t return my calls.”
“Do you really think she’s behind the whole thing?”
“She’s friends with Mona, and I think the two of them cooked it up. Ivy has it in for me.”
He paused for a moment. “Because of your ex?”
“I guess.” I shrugged. “I don’t really know. She seems to have a grudge about something.” It was ridiculous. If anyone should have a grudge, it’s me.
“I got the impression your ex-husband is still carrying a torch for you.”
“Believe me, I want nothing to do with him. He’s Ivy’s problem now. I wish they’d just leave me alone.”
Philip took this in with a frown. “So these women are bullying you?”
I nodded. “Basically.”
His frown grew deeper.
I reached over for my beer and took a sip. “So, what is it with you and all these outlaw associations?” My voice had a teasing note. “First pirates and now western gunslingers?”
His expression changed, and he chuckled a little. “It is kind of strange, isn’t it?”
“I already know about you and cell phones. But is there something else you haven’t told me?”
“Nope. Like I said, I’m a straightforward guy.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
“It is.”
“Hmm… why don’t I believe you?”
“You should get to know me better and you’ll see.”
Our eyes lingered on each other, and a slow warmth glided through me. “I’ll bet you say that to all the girls.”
He leaned closer. “Only you.”
We were still gazing at each other. I knew I should pull back, look away—anything to break this growing intimacy. I needed to protect myself. The problem was that little part of me he’d ignited didn’t want protection.
There was a peal of laughter from Leah, Theo, and Gavin, who were all cracking up at some joke.
“You have unusual friends.” Philip glanced over to them.
“Do I?” I glanced at Leah and Theo again.
Theo was grilling Gavin, questioning him about whether he was one of those capitalists who didn’t care one whit about the environment. “Are you kidding?” Gavin seemed indignant. “I’m a tree hugger all the way.”
“A yarn spinner and a bee entomologist?” Philip gave me a look. “I’d say so. How did the three of you meet?”
“Leah and I were best friends growing up.” I leaned back on the blanket to get more comfortable. Philip watched me, his gaze following my body. “And I met Theo at a yoga class two years ago.”
He drank from his beer, appearing to take this in.
Out of nowhere, I heard a familiar voice with a southern accent. “I didn’t realize you were throwing a party tonight, Claire.”
I jerked up into a sitting position. It was Violet. I hadn’t even heard her coming down the driveway. She stood there on the edge of the grass wearing one of her endless number twin sets.
“Are we being too loud?” I asked, though I didn’t think we were being loud at all.
“I figured I’d come down here and meet your new friends.” Her accent was strong, which usually meant she was upset. “Perhaps you could introduce me?”
“Um, sure.”
Instead of waiting for me though, she marched right up to Philip—a heat-seeking missile finding its target. “I assume you’re Claire’s new boyfriend?”
Everyone fell silent. All I could hear was the radio playing “Trouble” by Cage The Elephant.
I glanced at Leah and Theo, who both looked worried. Gavin’s brows shot up.
But Philip caught on fast. Unfazed, he immediately stood up from the blanket and put his hand out to Violet. “That’s right, ma’am. I’m Philip North.”
“Well, it’s good to meet you finally.” She wore a polite smile as she shook his hand, but as she studied him, her smile wavered. “And you are… Doug’s cousin?”
“I am.”
She nodded, but I could see she was uncomfortable. Violet liked it when people met her expectations, when everyone fit into their proper box, and she was obviously having trouble deciding which box Philip should go into.
“And you work for Doug?” she asked.
I heard Gavin chuckle.
Philip grinned a little. “Not exactly. I’m just here helping him out.”
“I see.” Violet studied him some more. “Who exactly is your employer, if I may ask?”
“My employer?”
“I just want to be sure my stepdaughter isn’t dating someone who might try to t
ake advantage of her. People see a house like this”—she motioned back toward Sullivan House—“and they get all sorts of ideas.”
“Violet!” I couldn’t believe she’d said that.
She turned in my direction. “I’m only looking out for you, Claire. Since you haven’t brought this young man up to the house, I’m forced to come down here and meet him myself.”
This was unbelievable. I wanted to die of embarrassment. It was bad enough Philip was going along pretending to be my boyfriend, but now Violet was accusing him of being a gold digger?
“That’s all right,” Philip said, trying to hide his smile. “I guess you could say I’m self-employed.”
Violet studied him. She didn’t seem to like this answer.
He motioned behind him. “Gavin and I are in business together.”
Gavin immediately got up from his chair, came over, and put his hand out to Violet. “I’m Gavin Stone. It’s nice to meet you.”
“And what exactly is it that you two boys do?”
“We’re VCs.” Gavin grinned at her. I got the sense he was enjoying this exchange immensely.
“I’m sorry?” Violet blinked at him. “What is a VC?”
“Venture capitalists,” Philip explained. “We own NorthStone Capital.”
Violet frowned, her gaze traveling over both men with a critical eye. She didn’t seem impressed with either of them.
Between Philip’s shaggy hair, dark stubble, and those beat-up sneakers, he didn’t exactly look like someone who’d invested in nearly every successful tech start-up of the last decade. Gavin wasn’t any better in his faded T-shirt and ripped jeans. Neither of them was what you’d expect a couple of guys who ran a billion-dollar company to look like.
“Let me offer you boys some advice.” Violet was still studying them. “If you want to make it in this world, you’ve got to remember that appearances matter.”
I spoke up in exasperation. “Violet, please leave them alone. Their appearance is fine. They were just laying down the floor in my new room today.”
“I understand, but if they want to be successful, this is important.” She turned to them again. “Would you like to hear the rest of my advice?”
“Yes,” Philip said, nodding.
“Absolutely!” Gavin’s grin was a mile wide.
Violet paused. “At least you both have good manners, so you must have been raised well.” She smiled at them. “Something my father always told me is that you mustn’t let your guard down in public for even one minute. I’m sure you two boys are just starting out, but if you want to be successful, you’ve got to be mindful of how you present yourself—and think big. Do you understand?”
“I do,” Philip said.
“I’m always thinking big,” Gavin agreed. “The bigger the better!”
“Good.” Violet nodded. “I’m glad I came down here.” Her eyes went to Philip. “That means you might want to get yourself a haircut. I’m only saying it wouldn’t hurt.” She looked down at his feet. “And new shoes don’t have to be expensive.”
“Oh my God,” I groaned.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Philip said, his lip twitching with a smile.
“Yeah, really.” Gavin scoffed at him. “You need to pull yourself together. I’m almost embarrassed to be seen with you.”
“And you could do with some new blue jeans, young man,” Violet said to Gavin. “Those holes are unseemly. No one is going to take you seriously in those.”
“I understand,” he said gravely.
She smiled at them again. “Once you’re cleaned up, I believe you two boys have a lot of potential.”
After she left and went back up to the house, I groaned again. “I’m so sorry. If it’s any consolation, she insults everybody.”
“That was fun,” Gavin said with a grin. “I can’t remember the last time I had a good talking-to like that.”
Philip chuckled. “Me either.”
Despite both men being good-natured about Violet and her advice, our little party wrapped up soon after she left. Both Leah and Theo had to get up early the next morning, and Gavin said he still needed to get some work done tonight.
Before I knew it, there was just Philip and me.
Alone.
He helped me throw the empty pizza boxes away and put the leftovers in the fridge.
The whole time I was torn between wanting him to leave and wanting him to stay. There was this feeling in the air between us. Something unspoken.
We went back outside and had just finished folding up the two extra lawn chairs when the radio played a Daughtry song, “Start of Something Good.”
To my surprise, Philip took the lawn chair from my hand and placed it against the porch rail.
“Would you dance with me, Claire?” He held his hand out.
My pulse sped up. It’d been a long time since a guy asked me to dance. I glanced up at him, uncertain, but his gaze was straight and true.
I took his hand, and my breath caught when he pulled me in close. One hand on my lower back, the other holding mine up.
“I like this song,” I managed to say.
“Me too.” His voice was low.
We both went quiet as we slow danced.
I tried to ignore the excitement building in me. “I’m sorry about Violet. She can be kind of forceful sometimes.”
“Don’t worry about it. I like her.”
“You do?”
“She thinks I have potential.”
I couldn’t help my laughter.
“Seriously, she was just looking out for you. I get that.”
I considered his words. I always saw Violet as Ivy and Daphne’s mother, someone in their corner, not mine. It occurred to me Philip was right. She was looking out for me tonight.
“Thank you for pretending to be my boyfriend again.” I bit my lip, embarrassed how he kept getting pulled into my family dramas.
He grinned. “I didn’t mind that either.”
“You didn’t?”
“No,” he whispered. “Not at all.”
Our eyes stayed on each other.
My excitement grew even more. I tried to say something, but when I opened my mouth, he leaned down and kissed me. Just like the song, we were caught up in the start of something. I knew I should stop, but the pull of him was strong—irresistible. His body felt so good pressed into mine.
When we broke the kiss, he didn’t move away. His eyes roamed my face. “I can’t believe this,” he said. “Where did you come from?”
I wasn’t sure how to respond.
“A fairy tale.” He tilted his head toward my house. “Or maybe a pumpkin.”
I laughed nervously. “Maybe.”
The song ended with a commercial. Still holding my hand, he led me over to the blanket on the ground. I pulled back because I knew what he wanted. I wasn’t born yesterday.
“I can’t,” I said. “I’m sorry, but I’m just not ready for this.”
He turned to me. “Ready for what?”
“I probably shouldn’t have kissed you again. I don’t want to lead you on.”
That seemed to give him pause. “You’re not leading me on. I just want to hang out and talk.”
“You just want to talk?” I gave him a skeptical look.
He chuckled. “I swear I’ll keep my hands to myself. I only want to get to know you better.”
I didn’t reply right away, thinking it over. I’d grown to like Philip. I liked how he was so protective over his mom and sister. The way he stayed and helped me with Ethan, and then tonight with my room.
I thought about how he held me this morning when I cried. He didn’t act like I was ‘being a girl’ or that I should have been tougher.
“Do you want me to go?” His voice was low. He’d obviously misinterpreted my silence. “I don’t mean to push you.”
“You don’t?” I smiled a little, because I’d bet he was pushy and bold in every area of his life.
“No.” His expressio
n was serious, and I could tell he meant it.
“Okay, we can hang out. But you have to keep your hands to yourself.”
He grinned. “All right, but I won’t be responsible for you.” He gestured to his body and waggled his brows. “You might not be able to resist all this.”
I laughed and we sat next to each other, Philip with his knees up while I crossed my legs.
He grinned at me once we were settled in. “So let’s start with food,” he said. “What’s your favorite meal?”
“My favorite meal?” I didn’t have to even think about it. “Pad Thai.”
“Really?” He seemed delighted by that. “A Thai food lover.”
“My favorite restaurant is right here in town.”
“I like Thai food too. We should go there sometime.”
I nodded but didn’t commit to anything.
His eyes stayed on me. “Okay, what’s your favorite movie?”
“Pirates of the Caribbean.”
He shook his head and chuckled. “Damn, I should have guessed that one. It’s probably because I’ve never seen it.”
“Really? I can’t believe that, especially with your family history.”
“Eliza’s seen all the movies. I just haven’t had time.”
“Well, you should make time.”
He grinned and pointed to my car. “I’ll bet your favorite color is turquoise.”
I shook my head. “No, it’s sky blue.”
“It is?” I knew what he was thinking. His eyes were sky blue.
“What about you?” I asked. “What’s your favorite movie, meal, and color?”
He grinned. “That’s easy. My favorite movie is The Godfather. My favorite meal is the spaghetti with spicy meatballs my mom makes, and my favorite color is green.”
“I’ve seen The Godfather, but I really didn’t think much of it.”
“The Godfather is the greatest movie ever made.”
I shrugged. “That’s debatable.”
“There’s no debate. It’s got everything: duty, honor, courage—even romance.”
“So do other movies. I don’t see why a Mafia movie is considered that great.” I leaned back on my elbows, stretching my legs out to get more comfortable. “To be honest, I thought it was boring.”
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